Large Container

ABSTRACT

A large container ( 2 ) comprises a bottom part ( 3 ) and four side walls ( 4, 8 ), of which at least one is fastened with at least one hinge to the bottom part ( 3 ) and, by these means, can be folded down to the bottom part ( 3 ). At least one of the side walls ( 4, 8 ) has a movable side part ( 10 ), which is constructed so that by moving the movable side part ( 10 ), the corresponding side wall ( 8 ) can be opened partially.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a large container with a base component and four side walls wherein at least one of the four side walls is attached at the base component through at least one hinge, so that the side wall is foldable towards the base component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large containers of this type which are designated as large cargo carriers typically have dimensions of 800×600 mm, 1200×800 mm, 1200×1000 mm, or 1200×1600 mm, which are standard sizes. The height of large cargo carriers of this type depends on the desired receiving capacity. A typical height above the contact surface of the large cargo carrier up to the upper edge of the side wall is 1000 mm, wherein this, however, is not a limitation. This defines the large container over other smaller containers, like e.g. fruit and vegetable containers or bottle crates and containers which can be stacked on pallets in plural layers on top of one another and adjacent to one another. The large containers or large cargo carriers are used for receiving in particular bulk materials and are thus often used for transporting large volume food products and also in the non-food field, in the industrial field and in the auto industry. Large containers of this type are voluminous and have more material thickness compared to the typical fruit and vegetable containers and are thicker and heavier over all, so that transporting the filled large containers can typically only be performed mechanically, in particular by forklifts or machines.

In order to reduce the return shipment volume of such large containers typically used as reusable containers, the side walls are either foldable overall or also only partially foldable, or foldable one by one, wherein the side walls can be locked together in a transport position. Locking devices of this type for containers of this type are known. They are engagement lugs which are configured at a side wall and engage a recess of the adjacent side wall or engage behind a locking bar of the adjacent side wall in a locking position, thus facilitating the locking.

A container is known from DE 698 26 757 T2 which includes four circumferentially disposed side walls on a base, wherein the side walls are pivotably linked to the base and thus can be folded onto the base in order to reduce the transport volume when being shipped back empty. In order to retrieve transported material when the side walls of the container are standing upright, a flap is provided in at least one side wall, wherein the flap is pivotably linked through a hinge with a lower side wall component and can be folded from the outside over the lower side wall component. In order to ensure in a folded position that the side wall components folded on top of one another are essentially flush with the other side wall sections, the flap and also the side wall component disposed thereunder have wave profiles on their outsides which reach over one another in folded positions, so that the folded down flap together with the lower side wall component, onto which the flap is folded down, has a thickness which is not thicker than the respective side wall. However, a flap mechanism for large containers is complex and in particular detrimental because the flap which has to be pivoted outward and then downward is more difficult to handle in view of the size of the side wall, which can be detrimental in particular in tight storage situations, since the flap has considerable dimensions in view of the size of the side wall. It is furthermore a problem that for bulk material due to the weight acting upon the flap during opening, it can be folded downward quickly against the efforts of the operator due to its weight, so that loose bulk material can fall out unintentionally and can be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a large container with circumferential side walls which are foldable inward onto the base of the container in which at least one side wall can be opened in a simple and safe manner for retrieving transported material.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a moveable side component is at least provided in one of the side walls of the large container, wherein the side component is moveable in a linear manner relative to the side wall from an upper closed position into a lower open position and thus through a side piece disposed below the moveable side wall wherein the side piece is not moveable and preferably fixated to the side wall. This provides a partial opening of the side wall of the container which furthermore can be performed from the top in a downward direction based on the translatoric movement of the moving component, so that the opening can be performed progressively and thus without a risk of materials falling out of the container. In an open position, the moveable side component covers the lower side component which is fixated at the side wall. Thus, the thicknesses of both side components are advantageously configured, so that the side components moved over one another are flush with the rest of the side wall on the inside and also on the outside in an open position of the side wall. The linear movability of the upper side component yields simple handling which furthermore also facilitates opening in very tight spaces since no side wall section is moved outward during opening.

Advantageously, the moveable side component can be moved into an overlap position viewed from the outside in front of the lower side component, so that moving down or pressing down the moveable side component cannot be locked by goods disposed within the container. The moveable side component can be lockable relative to the side wall in a non-opened position of the side component through two laterally disposed locking devices. For this purpose, typical locking mechanisms are suitable, in particular a locking lug that is actuatable through a handle element of the locking device, wherein the locking lug is pressed inward in a direction towards the center of the moveable side piece and thus is moved out of a recess of the adjacent fixated side wall section, so that the moveable side piece can then be moved downward. In this context, the handle component can be configured as an elastic bar, so that opening the locking device builds up a resilient reset force which presses the engagement lug back into its starting position after the locking device is disengaged. This facilitates simple locking. Alternatively, the locking lug can also be resiliently pre-loaded, so that it has to be pressed out of its locking position against a spring effect and then snaps back into its closed position after releasing or letting go of the handle element of the locking device.

Several lock recesses can be disposed in the adjacent side wall section with even distances, so that the moveable side component can be adjusted downward, thus a more or less far opening of the moveable side component is facilitated, wherein the locking lug can then engage an intermediary position in one of the locking recesses, so that an opening is also facilitated in intermediary positions.

In order to provide linear movability, the moveable side component includes a longitudinal tongue on both sides which engages a respective longitudinal groove in the adjacent section of the side wall, so that a translatoric support is provided on both sides. This facilitates moving the moveable side wall in upward and downward direction without wedging. Different support elements can certainly also be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are subsequently described with reference to schematic drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a large container;

FIG. 2 illustrates a large container in a side view;

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of the large container with a moveable side component in a closed condition;

FIG. 4 illustrates the detail view of the large container with the movable side piece in a partially open condition;

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the detail view according to FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail view analogous to FIG. 3 for illustrating the handle element.

Elements with a like structure or function are designated with like numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a large container 2 with four side walls 4, 8. The side walls 4, 8 are attached at the base component 3 through hinges, so that the side walls 4, 8 can be folded down towards a center of the large container 2. The complete foldability is facilitated through different heights of the base component 3 in the portion of hinges. At least one (e.g., two) side walls 8 include a moveable side component 10 in order to facilitate access to the interior of the container. Each moveable side component 10 includes at least one locking device 6 (e.g., two locking devices 6) and closes in its upper position according to FIG. 2 an opening (e.g., centrally disposed) of the large container 2 which is evident from FIG. 1. As evident from FIG. 1, the opening is laterally defined by wall sections 9 on both sides. When necessary, the locking devices 6 can also be disposed at the wall 9 outside of the moveable side component 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates the large container 2 according to FIG. 1 with the moveable side component 10 in a closed condition. A non-moveable side component 12 of the large container 2 is disposed thereunder, wherein the non-moveable side component is at least partially or completely covered by the moveable side component 10 in an open condition of the moveable side component 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detail view of the large container 2 with the moveable side component 10 in a closed condition. The locking device 6 can include a recess 13 which is engaged by respective lug shaped protrusions of the moveable side component 10. The recess 13 and the protrusion facilitate supporting a handle element of the locking device 6 and/or form a stop for the handle element. In the most simple form, the handle element is coupled with an engagement lug which engages a respective recess of the wall 9 outside of the moveable side component 10 (or vice versa) in a closed and locked condition of the locking device 6, wherein the recess is not illustrated in the drawing. Locked connections of the type are known, so that they do not have to be illustrated in detail. The locking lug is designated with 15 (FIGS. 4 and 5). For unlocking, the handle element is then pressed in the direction of the center of the moveable side component 10, which pulls the lug out of the recess in the wall 9. For this purpose, the handle element can be provided with a handle bar 17. Slightly cambered tongues 19 are integrally provided at the handle element on both sides of the handle bar, wherein the tongues contact a vertical bar 20 of the moving component 10. When the handle component is moved to the center, the tongues are preloaded and press the handle component back in an outward direction again into the locking position after the hand is removed. In this unlocked condition, the moveable side component can then be pressed downward into its open position. The locking device 6, in particular its bar-shaped handle element, can be operated in a particularly intuitive manner when the recess 13 is arrow shaped. Thus, the arrow top can point into an opening direction of the locking device 6.

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail view of the large container 2 with the moveable side component 10 in at least a partially open condition. Thus, a longitudinal groove 14 is visible in the wall 9 outside of the moveable side component 10.

As is apparent from FIG. 5 which illustrates a sectional view of the detail according to FIG. 4, a longitudinal key 16 of the moveable side component 10 engages the longitudinal groove 14. The longitudinal key 16 can be configured as dove tailed. The longitudinal groove 14 and the longitudinal key 16 facilitate supporting the moveable side component 10 in the wall 9 outside of the moveable side component 10 without wedging. The support groove is certainly provided in the two lateral wall sections 9 of the side wall 8.

In the illustrated embodiment, the moveable side component 10 and the non-moveable side component 12 are configured and arranged so that the moveable side component 10 is moved outward by the thickness of the lower non-moveable side component 12, so that the side component 10 can be moved downward into the opening position in front of the fixated side component 12. Thus, both side components overlap in an open position. In a closed position, the outer surface of the moving component 10 is flush with the outer surface of the side wall.

The large container 2 can certainly include more or less side walls 8 with moveable side pieces 10 and accordingly more or less side walls 4 without moveable side wall components 10. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A large container comprising: a base component provided with engagement openings for fork lift transportation and four side walls pivotably arranged at the base component, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a non-movable side component and a moveable side component, wherein the movable side component is disposed in a closed condition above the non-movable side component of the at least one of the side walls and configured, so that the at least one of the side walls can be partially opened through linear movement of the moveable side component and the movable side component overlaps the non-movable side component in an open condition and an outside of the moveable side component is flush with an outside of the at least one of the side walls and/or wherein an inside of the non-moveable side component is flush with an inside of the at least one of the side walls.
 13. The large container according to claim 12, wherein the moveable side component overlaps the non-moveable side component in the open condition.
 14. The large container according to claim 13, wherein the moveable side component is offset towards the outside of the movable side component.
 15. The large container according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the side walls with the moveable side component and the non-moveable side component has thickness equal to a remainder of the at least one side wall not including the movable and non-movable side components.
 16. The large container according to claim 12, wherein the moveable side component and/or the side wall with the moveable side component include at least one locking device for fixating the moveable side component in position.
 17. The large container according to claim 16, wherein the moveable side component and/or the side wall with the moveable side wall includes two locking devices for fixating the moveable side wall in position.
 18. The large container according to claim 16, wherein the locking device includes a handle element with a recess, into which a protrusion of the moveable side component or of the side wall engages for supporting the handle element.
 19. The large container according to claim 18, wherein the recess has an arrow shape and an arrow head of the arrow shape points in an opening direction of the locking device.
 20. The large container according to claim 18, wherein the handle element is coupled with a locking lug which engages a recess of one of the side walls in a locked condition.
 21. The large container according to claim 12, wherein the moveable side component comprises a longitudinal tongue at its horizontal side edges, which engages a respective groove of the at least one of the side walls outside of the moveable side component for supporting the moveable side component at the at least one of the side walls.
 22. The large container according to claim 21, wherein the longitudinal tongue includes a dove tail profile.
 23. The large container according to claim 13, wherein the at least one of the side walls with the moveable side component and the non-moveable side component has a thickness equal to a remainder of the at least one side wall not including the movable and non-movable side components.
 24. The large container according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the side walls with the moveable side component and the non-moveable side component has a thickness equal to a remainder of the at least one side wall not including the movable and non-movable side components.
 25. The large container according to claim 13, wherein the moveable side component and/or the side wall with the moveable side component include at least one locking device for fixating the moveable side component in position.
 26. The large container according to claim 15, wherein the moveable side component and/or the side wall with the moveable side component include at least one locking device for fixating the moveable side component in position.
 27. The large container according to claim 17, wherein the locking device includes a handle element with a recess, into which a protrusion of the moveable side component or of the side wall engages for supporting the handle element.
 28. The large container according to claim 18, wherein the handle element is coupled with a locking lug which engages a recess of one of the side walls in a locked condition.
 29. The large container according to claim 16, wherein the moveable side component comprises a longitudinal tongue at its horizontal side edges, which engages a respective groove of the at least one of the side walls outside of the moveable side component for supporting the moveable side component at the at least one of the side walls.
 30. The large container according to claim 15, wherein the moveable side component comprises a longitudinal tongue at its horizontal side edges, which engages a respective groove of the at least one of the side walls outside of the moveable side component for supporting the moveable side component at the at least one of the side walls.
 31. The large container according to claim 13, wherein the moveable side component comprises a longitudinal tongue at its horizontal side edges, which engages a respective groove of the at least one of the side walls outside of the moveable side component for supporting the moveable side component at the at least one of the side walls.
 32. The large container according to claim 18, wherein the handle element is coupled with a locking lug which engages a recess of one of the side walls in a locked condition.
 33. The large container according to claim 18, wherein the handle element is coupled with a locking lug which engages a recess of one of the side walls in a locked condition. 